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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Introducing The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions

Life
is short. The window of opportunity to learn and laugh with our
children closes all too soon. With such limited time, we must carefully
select which resources receive our attention.

The Wise Woman by
George MacDonald is an elegant little story that speaks with stunning
wisdom and authority on many significant subjects: selfishness, pride,
and conceit, as well as sacrifice, courage, and compassion.

Travel
through its pages and you will encounter sleek wolves, slobbering
hyenas, and an assortment of beasts that go bump in the night. Step into
enchanted rooms with pictures that become doorways into the familiar or
the fantastic. Witness weak-willed parents who blindly overindulge
their children—and reap the destructive consequences of their
indiscriminate giving.

You will also meet a fearlessly loving and
wise woman who confronts stubborn ignorance and ugly pride with
unflinching discipline, truth, and grace.

The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions shows how strong and steadfast love
creates the opportunity for a spoiled rebel (who is only royal in title)
to become a noble princess (who is truly royal in character). Layers of
insight unfold within this delightful and engaging fable.

Do not
be deceived by the title. This is not merely a story for ladies. It
winds through a profound adventure, captivating men and women, boys and
girls.

Christian minister, author, and poet George MacDonald
(1824-1905) is masterful in his ability to weave profound lessons into
thoroughly entertaining tales. Perhaps that is why writers such as C. S.
Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L’Engle so deeply admired him.

Acknowledging his debt to George MacDonald, C. S. Lewis wrote: "I
have never concealed the fact that I regarded him as my master; indeed I
fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him."

Who
says developing critical thinking skills requires dry and somber study?
By offering students 16 to 24 literary analysis questions per chapter,
this 160-page spiral bound edition teaches critical thinking in a way
that is engaging and transformational. As one student explained:

“The
literary analysis questions cut hard and deep— they forced me to
reflect upon the story from a biblical worldview. As I processed the
questions, I began to see Rosamond’s problems in my own life. Answering
offered me no choice but to change….”

–Danny (14 years old)

Michael
Phillips, Christian author and world-renowned expert on George
MacDonald, gave this edition of The Wise Woman his endorsement: